‘New measures disaster for Sudan’s private sector’: Employers’ Union

January 28 - 2015KHARTOUM

The containers terminal in Port Sudan (redsea-sd.com)

According to the Sudanese Employers’ Union, the national private sector may collapse this year, as a result of the government’s recently approved increase of the US dollar value for the customs branch, and additional taxes imposed on imported goods.

The businessmen consider the new customs dollar price, and the increase of the sea port standard fees and taxes as disastrous for the Sudanese private sector.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Union accused the federal Ministry of Finance of reneging from its commitments concerning the budget for the current year, which was approved at the end of December. The 2015 state budget stipulates that the import branch would be exempted from additional fees.

The Employers’ Union demanded a review of the altered policies and new increases, which “will have a significant impact on the private sector, and affect the overall economy in the country”.

The businessmen warn of an “entire collapse of the private sector”, as the markets are stagnating, owing to the soaring prices of imported goods last year.